NBA D-League Update
Published on April 27, 2012 under NBA G League (G League) News Release
AUSTIN FORCES DECISIVE GAME 3
Justin Dentmon, the 2012 NBA Development League Most Valuable Player, and Julian Wright each poured in 26 points to propel the Austin Toros to a 113-94 victory over the host Los Angeles D-Fenders in Game 2 of the 2012 NBA D-League Finals presented by BBVA. With the series netted at 1-1, the decisive Game 3 is slated for tomorrow in Los Angeles. The clincher will tip off at 9:30 p.m. ET and will be televised nationally on NBA TV (tape delay) and streamed live online on nba.com/dleague.
The D-Fenders failed to close out the series despite Malcolm Thomas' second straight double-double (18 points, 14 rebounds).
Facing elimination, Austin led wire-to-wire, and was up by as many as 23 points. Terrance Woodbury finished with 17 points, Flip Murray scored 16 points off the bench and Brad Wanamaker tallied 15 points. Wright finished with a team-high 11 rebounds while shooting 10-of-18 from the floor in the win.
Los Angeles, looking to capture the championship on its home court at the Toyota Sports Center, was led by Thomas and Orien Green, who netted 17 points. The top-seeded D-Fender's captured Game 1 in Austin, 109-101, on the strength of Elijah Millsap's season-high 33 points and 10 rebounds, and Thomas' 21 points and NBA D-League Finals-record 25 rebounds.
More from NBADLeague.com's Kevin Scheitrum
PROSPECT REPORT
Elijah Millsap, Los Angeles D-Fenders -- If NBA Call-Ups were based simply on production, Millsap wouldn't be participating in the 2012 NBA D-League Finals against the Austin Toros. He'd be collecting an NBA check. A likely NBA D-League First Team selection, Millsap averaged 19.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.9 steals in 41 games this season, as the D-Fenders posted the best regular season record in NBA D-League history. Despite his stellar play, Millsap, the brother of Paul Millsap of the Utah Jazz, did not get a sniff from an NBA team this season. Millsap could best be described as a power guard. Not a great perimeter shooter, Millsap gets most of his points on drives to the basket -- he made an NBA D-League Finals record 15 free throws in Game 1 against the Toros. He's also a strong defender and rebounder. At his size (6-6, 220), NBA teams would probably like to see him improve his range and ball skills. The next stop is probably the NBA Summer League.
NEWS & NOTES
Los Angeles' Eric Musselman
Los Angeles D-Fenders head coach Eric Musselman was named the winner of the Dennis Johnson Coach of the Year award, as voted by his fellow NBA Development League head coaches. Musselman helmed a Los Angeles team that recorded an NBA D-League record 38 victories during the 2011-12 regular season en route to a Western Conference Championship and the first overall seed in the 2012 NBA D-League Playoffs presented by BBVA. During his first year with the team, Musselman oversaw the development of six top NBA D-League prospects who earned a total of eight GATORADE Call-Ups to the NBA this season, including the 2012 NBA D-League All-Star MVP Gerald Green, now of the New Jersey Nets and Houston Rockets guard Courtney Fortson, who both signed contracts for the remainder of the season with their NBA teams. More
Bakersfield's Derrick Byars Signs with San Antonio Spurs
The San Antonio Spurs have signed Bakersfield Jam guard/forward Derrick Byars for the record 60th GATORADE Call-Up of the 2011-12 NBA Development League season. Byars joins more than 100 NBA players with NBA D-League experience currently on 2011-12 rosters. In 25 regular season games, 22 starts, with the Jam, Byars (6-7, 220, Vanderbilt) averaged 15.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 32.2 minutes. He scored in double figures 18 times, recording a season-high 27 points in a 109-102 win over the Canton Charge on Feb. 22. In the 2012 postseason, Byars averaged 13.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 1.3 assists and 31.0 minutes in four games. In 104 career NBA D-League games, Byars has averaged 17.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 35.3 minutes. Byars has seen action in 15 NBA preseason games over four seasons, and owns NBA preseason career averages of 5.1 points, 2.2 rebounds and 14.0 minutes. More
Iowa's Moses Ehambe Receives 2012 Jason Collier Sportsmanship Award
Iowa Energy forward Moses Ehambe is the recipient of the 2012 Jason Collier Sportsmanship Award, as voted on by the 16 NBA Development League head coaches. The award honors the player who best represents the ideals of character and conduct on and off the court. A four-year NBA D-League veteran, Ehambe averaged 12.8 points, 2.7 rebounds and 26.9 minutes in 46 games, 26 starts, during the 2011-12 campaign. The 6-6, 215-pound swingman out of Oral Roberts led the Energy in scoring six times, including back-to-back 30-plus point games on Dec. 1 and 3. The name of the Sportsmanship Award was changed in 2006 to honor former NBA D-League, Houston Rockets and Atlanta Hawks center Jason Collier, who passed away suddenly on Oct. 15, 2005. Collier was a 2003-04 All-NBA D-League First Team selection as a member of the Fayetteville Patriots, but more importantly was a player and person who exemplified the qualities of a faithful teammate, husband, father, son, brother and friend. He was ready to begin his sixth NBA season at the time of his death. More
AROUND THE D-LEAGUE
The Los Angeles Lakers have recalled guard/forward Christian Eyenga from the Los Angeles D-Fenders. Acquired from the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 15 along with Ramon Sessions in exchange for Luke Walton and Jason Kapono, Eyenga has yet to play for the Lakers this season. In six regular season games with the D-Fenders, Eyenga averaged 12.2 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.3 blocks and 33.0 minutes, before helping the D-Fenders reach the D-League finals, where they currently hold a 1-0 lead over the Austin Toros ... The San Antonio Spurs have recalled guard Cory Joseph from the Austin Toros. Joseph, a 6-3 guard, has been assigned to Austin three times this season, most recently on March 20. Since then he has helped lead the Toros to the D-League Finals. In the playoffs, Joseph is averaging 11.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 1.29 steals in 34.3 minutes through seven games. During the regular season, he saw action in 14 games for Austin, averaging 13.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.29 steals in 32.9 minutes.
ALUMNI ACHIEVEMENTS
Cleveland's Alonzo Gee scored 13 points on 5-for-7 shooting in 28 minutes in a loss to the Toronto Raptors last night. Not drafted by an NBA franchise in 2009, Gee signed with the Austin Toros, and was named the 2009-10 NBA D-League Rookie of the Year, averaging 21.0 points and 6.6 rebounds in 36 games with the Toros. After spending time with the Washington Wizards and San Antonio Spurs at the end of the 2009-10 season, Gee was signed by the Cavaliers in December 2010, and went on to average 7.4 points and 3.9 rebounds in 40 games.
GATORADE CALL-UP BOARD
Boston's Ray Allen needs 28 threes to pass Reggie Miller (2,560) for first on the all-time list ... Boston's Kevin Garnett needs 60 rebounds to pass Charles Barkley (12,546) for 16th on the all-time list ... The Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant needs 52 points to pass Hakeem Olajuwon (26,946) for eighth on the all-time list. Bryant needs seven steals to pass Rod Strickland (1,616) for 22nd on the all-time list.
ASSIGNMENT BOARD
NBA Players Currently on Assignment in the NBA D-League:
Player NBA Team NBA D-League Team Assignment Date G PPG RPG APG
Hassan Whiteside Sacramento Reno 11/29/10 7 5.1 3.2 0.1
DeMarre Carroll Memphis Dakota 12/14/10 6 35.7 18.3 6.8
Pape Sy Atlanta Utah 12/27/10 6 24.0 5.5 5.0
Devin Ebanks L.A. Lakers Bakersfield 12/27/10 6 26.5 12.0 8.0
Garret Siler Phoenix Iowa 1/4/10 16.0 4.0 7.0
Cole Aldrich Oklahoma City Tulsa 12/30/10 28.8 7.3 8.1
Today's Quote
Austin Toros guard JUSTIN DENTMON, on the 2011-12 season: "I think that it's a testament to the hard work that I put in. I have to give credit to the coaching staff for training me and preparing me to play at the point guard spot. I take it as a great accomplishment. Any time you can win MVP in anything, it's a great thing." NBADLeague.com, April 26, 2012
NBA G League Stories from April 27, 2012
- Former Bighorns Players Look to Make Big Impact in NBA Playoffs - Reno Bighorns
- NBA D-League Update - G League
- D-Fenders Drop Game Two of the NBA D-League Finals - Los Angeles D-Fenders
- Austin Evens NBA Development League Finals with Game Two Win at Los Angeles - G League
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
